Happy Chinese New Year 新年快乐 2018! This year marks the Year of the Dog, 狗 (Gǒu). The dog is the 11th animal in the Chinese Zodiac.
The Dog is the 11th animal in the Chinese Zodiac. (Image: By Jakub Hałun (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons)
Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 9
Lucky Colors: Green, Red, Purple
Hong Kong Stamps Issuing Program 2018. Chinese New Year, Dog Theme. (Image: Monica Song / Nspirement)
The Dog symbolizes loyalty and honesty
According to Chinese tradition, people born in the Year of the Dog possess “the best traits of human nature.”
Dogs are said to be honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable, and have a strong sense of responsibility.
Just as each coin has two sides, so do dogs.
Some of their downside traits are described as being self-righteous, cold, very stubborn, slippery, critical to others, and not good at social activities.
If you recognize yourself in any of the above traits, you might have some ideas for your New Year’s resolution list.
The Five Elements of Dog, 狗 (Gǒu)
In accordance with their five elements theory, which is deeply innate to Chinese culture, Chinese Zodiac 生肖 (Shēngxiào) animals are also represented by the five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, water.
Each element bears a slightly different personality, as the affinities and affections conjured by the element’s characteristics may bring forth different behavioral patterns.
If you would like to learn what your personality traits are according to the Chinese Zodiac and the five elements, then you might find the following links interesting.
Click the following links to get personalities and horoscopes for the five types of Dog, as shown on Your Chinese Astrology.
→ Wood Dog: 1934 (Feb. 14, 1934 – Feb. 3, 1935) and 1994 (Feb. 10, 1994 – Jan. 30, 1995)
→ Fire Dog: 1946 (Feb. 2, 1946 – Jan. 21, 1947) and 2006 (Jan. 29, 2006 – Feb. 17, 2007)
→ Earth Dog: 1958 (Feb. 18, 1958 – Feb. 7, 1959) and 2018 (Feb. 16, 2018 – Feb. 4, 2019)
→ Metal Dog: 1970 (Feb. 6, 1970 – Jan. 26, 1971)
→ Water Dog: 1982 (Jan. 25, 1982 – Feb. 12, 1983)
(Image: Dante Tee; Pexels; CC0 1.0)
There is an interesting legend about how each Chinese zodiac sign was chosen. It’s definitely worth reading.
As the moon completes another cycle, we leave the old and enter the new.
Any New Year resolutions for 2018?
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From all of us at Nspirement: Have a Happy Chinese New Year 2018!
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